Chapter 5 Summary

One of Greer's patient families has a granddaughter, Regina, who has finished high school and needs a job. Regina comes to take care of the Brown children, which she manages quite well. Charlie has a crush on her, so he does anything she asks. Betsey wants to learn all Regina knows about boys, and loves to watch Regina with Roscoe, her high school beau who has big plans for the two of them. The children all watch intently the romantic kiss between the two—except, that is, for the jealous Charlie, who calls Vida to the scene. Regina is promptly dismissed.

Jane learns that after enough stalling, the city finally intends to begin busing her children, and others like them, to white schools around St. Louis. She's devastated, having been perfectly satisfied with the whole concept of "separate but equal," as long as...